After feedback from community members and district staff, Plano ISD Board of Trustees approved the 2017-18 academic calendar with a start date of Aug. 21.
At tonight's Plano ISD board meeting, the 2017-18 academic calendar was approved.[/caption]At tonight’s meeting, PISD Board of Trustee David Stolle said he supports the earlier start date in 2017-18, but would like to use the 2017-18 as a transition year and begin planning for an earlier start date in the 2018-19 year.
“I will support an aggressive early start next year,” said Nancy Humphrey, PISD board of trustees vice president.
The board received 351 responses, and over 73 percent of the responses were from staff. Overall, 45 percent of respondents preferred to start on Aug. 21, according to an updated report given to the board.
The board is talking about a calendar school year that starts in six months and many families make plans further out than six months, Solomon said.
In addition to the approved calendar, the board requested waivers for two early release days and three professional learning days for the 2017-18 academic school year. These days would be in compliance with direction from the Texas Education Agency.
The two early release days will affect elementary students prior to a holiday or the end of the school year, according to a letter from the district to TEA Commissioner Mike Morath. The three professional learning days will be declared as staff development days, which would change the observation of instructional days to 177 rather than the required 180 days.
